The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, will be called upon to address the Seanad next month on the situation of an Irishman who has been held in prison in Thailand since May for allegedly stealing a camera.
Mr Wesley Higgins, (22) from Coolock in Dublin, was arrested in the Thai resort of Phuket in May and has been held on remand. He faces a sentence of up to seven years if convicted of the theft.
Mr Higgins was on holiday with his brother Mario (29) when he allegedly stole the camera from another tourist after his money, £300, was stolen by a Thai woman. Although he reported the woman and she was arrested, Mr Higgins did not get his money back, according to Mario.
"He sort of freaked and went out and took the camera. It was stupid and he admits that, but he doesn't deserve this."
Mario engaged a solicitor for his brother before leaving Thailand in June. The solicitor advised Wesley to plead guilty.
Though bail was initially set at 200,000 baht, or about £4,000, this was subsequently raised to 400,000 baht. The family, with friends, raised £8,000 during the summer. However, when Mario returned to Phuket last month bail was refused.
Asked whether he was given an explanation, Mario said it was refused because the authorities "want to make an example of him.
"They said the crime was too serious, that it was bad for the tourism."
The case is due for hearing on November 13th and his family is concerned he will not be released.
Senator Joe Costello accompanied the Higgins family to a meeting with senior officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday.
He said he was concerned at the lack of urgency being shown by the Department in the case.
"I stressed the urgency of the case and asked them to ensure that Wesley's human rights were not being infringed. I also asked them about adequate legal representation. The legal situation surrounding the plea and the bail are very unclear," said Senator Costello.
"The officials said they would make a list of lawyers available to the Higgins family, though they will have to pay for a new lawyer, which is difficult."
Mr Higgins has until recently been held in shackles and is said to be held in an extremely overcrowded cell with up to 100 other people. He has lost over a stone in weight.
A spokesman for the Thai embassy in London said he could not comment on individual cases.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said that while they could not intervene in any overseas case they would do "everything possible to help".
Mr Costello will raise the issue in the Seanad early next month and Mr Cowen will be invited to respond.
